Where does big money go after Cuomo's long goodbye? (Updated)

                                                             Cuomo's Farewell Email                                                     

                      

                                                                             

 As of today, Andrew Cuomo is no long New York's governor.

He told us he was leaving at a news conference two weeks ago after denying sexual harassment allegations. He told us again at several subsequent appearances, again during a farewell address yesterday and in an email to supporters last night.

So what do the Long Island big donors and Cuomo cronies do now? Where do they put their money, allegiance and influence?

We're talking about big donors such as real estate developer Scott Rechler, one of Democrat Cuomo's largest donors, who contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Cuomo directly or through family members and companies. Cuomo appointed him to the MTA Board and earlier to the Port Authority Board.

Scott Rechler from twitter

 

Rechler's company, RXR Realty Investment also landed the the billion-dollar Nassau deal in 2018 to develop the land around the Nassau Coliseum. Rechler has also been a big donor to Nassau County Executive Laura Curran, a Democrat running for re-election this year.

There's also Lake Success lawyer Howard Fensterman, managing partner and co-founder of law firm Abrams Fensterman, who has hosted fundraisers for the governor in addition to making cash contributions.

Howard Fensterman from AbramsFensterman

And also Adam Katz, Long Island aviation magnate, who has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Cuomo directly or through associates, according to a 2019 investigation by the Albany Times Union.

Katz is the former owner and founder of Talon Air, the Long Island luxury private jet service known for catering to elite customers ranging from LeBron James to Mick Jagger, the paper reported, including trips for Cuomo.

Adam Katz

Lester Petracca, the Manhasset president and CEO of real estate development firm Triangle Equities, was appointed by Cuomo to the Nassau Interim Finance Authority, the county's financial control board and to the Battery Park City Authority. 

Lester Petracca from TriangleEquities.com

Petracca and his wife have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Cuomo, records show.

Also, hotel magnate George Tsunis, a bipartisan contributor , who is chairman of the Battery Park City Authority, former chairman of Nu-Health, the public benefit corporation that runs the Nassau University medical center, and a director of the New York Convention Center's Operating Committee, which oversee Jacob Javits convention center.

Tsunis and his wife have contributed tens of thousands of dollars to Cuomo.

As the New York Times pointed out when looking at Cuomo board appointments in 2018,  "Most positions are unpaid, but they hold great power and prestige: Board members can approve multi-billion-dollar contracts and multi-million-dollar grants" while exerting broad influence over a myriad of governmental activities.

There also Cuomo confederates who have not contributed money but who have close associations through their work.

One example of an influencer is Kevin Law, who stepped down as the CEO and president of the Long Island Association in April.

Kevin Law from NCFP. org

 

Cuomo lauded Law at the time. "I have known Kevin personally and professionally for decades and I'm proud of all we've accomplished together," Cuomo told Newsday.

And then there's Adam Barsky, appointed by Cuomo to be chairman of NIFA, the county's financial control board, in 2016. 

Barsky is the CFO and executive vice president of the New York Power Authority  Previously he was chief of staff at the Port Authority.

Adam Barksy from nypa.gov

It has been well understood throughout the political world that Barsky has followed Cuomo directions to help Curran rather than fight with her, like past NIFA chairmen did with former county executives.

One political strategist said the donors and influencers will simply shift their allegiance to Cuomo's former Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul, who took the oath of office for governor today.

He said he expects Nassau State Democratic chairman Jay Jacobs to back Hochul, who has announced she plans to run for the office she inherited next year.

Kathy Hochul from wikipedia

Hochul will need to raise alot of money to make the run. "These guys will step up to the plate," he predicted.

Jacobs hasn't endorsed Hochel but he put out a very strong statement of support when Cuomo announced his resignation:

“New York will finally have its first female Governor and we could not be in better hands," Jacobs said. "From assisting her mother run a transitional domestic violence shelter to helping make the property tax cap permanent, Kathy Hochul has always and relentlessly fought for the people of New York.  Her experience at all levels of government – Town Board Member, County Clerk, Congresswoman, and Lieutenant Governor, makes her uniquely well-equipped to effectively govern the State at this time.

"I am confident that incoming Governor Hochul’s empathy, work ethic and authentic concern for the welfare of its citizens will make her an outstanding Governor for our State," Jacobs concluded in his Aug. 10 statement.

Hochul does not have to file contributions to her gubernatorial run until January.

But Rechler and Petracca already have hedged their bets, with their wives donating thousands to Hochul's Lt. Governor committee in the past.

It also will be interesting to see how former Cuomo acolytes - Curran and U.S. Congresswoman Kathleen Rice interact with Hochul.

Curran had been close to Cuomo since she took office in Jan. 2018, coordinating with the governor and his aides on coronavirus, tax payments and other actions. 

She stopped appearing with Cuomo when the sexual allegations hit, but didn't call for his resignation until Attorney General Letitia James, a fellow Democrat, issued a fiery report saying Cuomo had sexually harassed 11 women.

Rice too had been a Cuomo favorite when she was Nassau's district attorney, picked to Cuomo to sit on various investigatory boards. But she turned against Cuomo and called for his resignation as soon as the first sexual harassment allegations were made.

Oddly none of Long Island's Democratic politicians demanded Cuomo's resignation when James reported earlier that Cuomo had undercounted thousands of cooronavirus nursing home deaths.

Update:  A reader pointed out that the only real winner in all this is former Nassau District Attorney Madeline Singas.

Cuomo appointed Democrat Singas to the Court of Appeals earlier this year with the expectation that the wealthy Greek community that supports Singas would return the favor by making large contributions to Cuomo's re-election campaign. 

The New York Bar Association found Singas qualified for the job while describing most of her fellow candidates for the Court of Appeals position as "well qualified."

But now Cuomo is out and Singas is in; no contributions needed.